CARLTON coach Brett Ratten is adamant his much-improved team has the potential to be even better during the second half of the season.

The Blues thrashed the Brisbane Lions by 61 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, in the process leaping above Hawthorn into third place on the ladder.

Speaking after the impressive performance, Ratten said Carlton now boasted the most talented and fittest list in his four and a half seasons as senior coach.

"We spoke a little bit pre-game about the pressure within the club now," Ratten said. "It's something that's really good.

"When teams have success is when you don't rely on just the 22 or the 24 that make up the senior core of your list.

"You need 32, 34 players that can come in and really give you something."

Irishman Zach Tuohy is among the youngsters who have helped Carlton improve its depth.

Playing as a running defender, the 21-year-old former Gaelic footballer gathered 20 possessions and kicked a goal in the victory over the Lions.

But he knows he'll have to keep performing that way to keep his spot in the team as highly-regarded players like Ryan Houlihan, Brock McLean, Robert Warnock and Kane Lucas are all currently running around with the Northern Bullants in the VFL.

In addition, defenders Jeremy Laidler (hamstring) and Simon White (knee) are expected to return from injuries in the next month.

"Laidler's been outstanding this year," Ratten said. "It would be great to have him back, but I think it just shows our depth."

The coach also praised tall forward Lachie Henderson, who came into the Carlton team as a replacement for the injured Jarrad Waite.

Henderson took four marks in the first quarter, and kicked a goal in the third.

"There's room to play Jarrad, Lachie and Matthew [Kreuzer] down there as well," Ratten stated.

The Blues experimented in the final term and Henderson ended up at full-back on Mitch Clark.

The 21-year-old, who much of the pre-season due to a knee injury he suffered just prior to Christmas, finished the game with 17 possessions and 10 marks.

When compared to his last AFL match against Essendon in round four, in which he had only two kicks, it was a vast improvement.

"We pushed him in to play and he was not ready in that Essendon game and it showed," Ratten acknowledged.

"Now, when you have a look at his performance today, he had the lateral movement. He could go sideways with some power and he could leap and jump.

"It's a big lesson for us as a coaching group. We've got to make sure they're right."

Carlton will be aiming to further entrench itself in the top four when it meets the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.